The weather, as ever, a double-edged sword

After a weekend when forecasts of sun fell some way short of accurate and major events such as the Isle of Wight Festival became the all too familiar mud bath, the weather once more has become a hot, or perhaps, wet, topic of discussion. Visitors to Wales at the weekend were even treated to snow at the top of Mount Snowdon, at a time when large parts of Wales are suffering near drought conditions The crazy, changeable British weather remains something of a fascination for many and if planning a short break or holiday in the coming week and deciding on whether to pack the sunscreen or the wellington boots, it may be a good idea to make room for both.

While many UK holidaymakers go looking for the best sunspots, East Anglia and other parts of Central and Eastern England are facing drought restrictions and after the hottest and driest spring on record, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and parts of Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Northamptonshire could all do with extended periods of rain. It is not just farmers, gardeners and consumers who would like more rainfall of course, with keen anglers looking to exploit the wetter parts of the country for their summer fishing.

Back in Wales, the recent rainfall has helped, although water levels in the Rivers Wye, Usk and Ebbw remain low for this time of year and the Environment Agency Wales is monitoring the situation closely to assess the effects on river wildlife. It is a concern echoed by Wales Tourism Alliance spokesperson, Adrian Greeson-Walker, who is keen to see minimal disruption to the inland waterways, lakes and waterfalls, but concedes that while visitors appreciate the rain-induced lush rolling hills and natural beauty of Wales, the dry weather is more likely to get them out to enjoy it.

Sandcastles.
All that powdery white stuff you find on tropical beaches is rubbish isn't it? You can't even call it sand really. Sand is a building material. And let's be honest, what fun is the beach …